Recaps

Sylutia recalled a dream revealing how a Witch defeated a crone in the World of Shadows and helped the dying Knight Holin. Recognizing Holin’s sword, she connected the vision to Baron Holin’s ancestry and reconsidered the hidden history of Regard and the Witches.

• In Sylutia’s dream, the Witch confronted the crone after descending into the World of Shadows and destroyed her Black Serpent and Soul-Devouring Birds.
• The Witch used Distortion to make the grass consume the crone, who cursed her enemies before dying.
• The Witch honored the fallen Knight Holin, promised to tell Regard Buwelly of his deeds, and let his body turn to sand while his sword remained.
• Sylutia recognized the sword’s inscription, “Fir Knights · Holin,” and concluded Baron Holin descended from the sacrificed Knight.
• Sylutia inferred that Regard had relied on the Witches against the crones and that the Witches’ agreement with Candle Keep scholars had kept their role out of written history.

Sylutia explored the Distorted forest and used Alien Star Perception to uncover a hidden Nightmare creature attacking her through the stream’s reflection. After killing it, she learned that her new ability revealed creatures and their nature, and wondered why dream beasts feared her.

• Sylutia crossed the gray-and-white world toward an ancient ruin, passing a moss-covered boulder that seemed ordinary.
• A snake attacked Sylutia near a forest stream, and she killed it and collected one of its venomous fangs.
• A reflection in the stream spoke to Sylutia and attacked with a blood-red tongue before vanishing beneath the water.
• Sylutia activated Alien Star Perception and saw hidden dream creatures, then spotted a transparent Human-Faced Tree Frog above the stream.
• Sylutia leaped up and killed the Human-Faced Tree Frog, whose Nightmare nature and ability to attack through reflections were revealed.
• Sylutia identified nearby Dream Infant Beasts and wondered why they feared her, suspecting she still carried the Radiant Moon’s aura.

Sylutia explored the Distortion Forest, fought off three Star Shadow Leopards, and reached a vast ancient temple ruin. She discovered a fountain filled with Radiant Moon-infused water, but a swarm of Withered White Bees descended on her.

• Sylutia found an abandoned fountain in a forest clearing and continued through the Distortion Forest.
• Sylutia fought three Star Shadow Leopards, wounded them, and drove them away without being injured.
• Sylutia collected clear water from a pool among the stone ruins and continued toward the temple.
• Sylutia explored the enormous temple and found an intact fountain whose water carried the Radiant Moon Aspect.
• A swarm of Withered White Bees descended on Sylutia after she discovered the fountain.

Sylutia escaped the Withered White Bees by diving into the fountain, where Radiant Moon power drew her into a vivid memory of her mother teaching her about the moon’s possibilities. The vision ended with her mother revealing the Seventh Order power Aster Midsummer and asking whether Sylutia had learned it.

• The Strange Black Cat fought the Withered White Bees as Sylutia jumped into the fountain to escape the swarm.
• As Sylutia sank through the pool, Radiant Moon power surrounded her and brought her memories into extraordinary clarity.
• Sylutia entered a dreamlike memory of her childhood in her mother’s garden and ran to embrace her mother.
• Her mother showed Sylutia how moonlight could transform objects and explained that the moon granted power to become whatever she wished.
• Her mother painted a sky-spanning field of asters and revealed Aster Midsummer, a Seventh Order power that could change the climate, shift the seasons, and create flower-covered land.
• Her mother tapped Sylutia on the nose and asked whether she had learned the power.

Sylutia used a starlit water curtain to seal the white bee swarm in an illusory flowerbed, then searched the temple ruins and uncovered a history of a church that fought over the Silver Moon Dragon's legacy. She rested in the ruins, where faint moonlight carried her into another strange dream.

• Sylutia sacrificed her First Order Aspect Power to form a star sand vortex and seal the white bees in the card [Bees and Night Flowerbed].
• Sylutia recalled the name Elysia, her childhood playmate, but still could not remember her own full name or Mother's name.
• Sylutia searched the emptied fountain and temple ruins, finding a stele about a church that had fought over the Silver Moon Dragon's legacy in the Eighth Era.
• Sylutia lay down on a stone bench to rest, and moonlight carried her into another distant dream.

Sylutia relived a moonlit ritual in a dream and learned that the ruined temple belonged to the erased Silver Radiance Church, whose saint Melancholy had been favored as Radiant Moon’s successor. Her song awakened the temple’s last power, revealing the scripture “Melancholy Praying in the Lake,” its two rituals, and a warning about hostile factions.

• Sylutia awoke from a dream of a veiled woman performing a moon ritual and found her physical abilities had improved despite her Aspect Power rank remaining zero.
• Sylutia recalled that the Witch and the old crone had belonged to the Moon Council, which had fought the Silver Radiance Church over the Hour of Radiant Moon.
• Sylutia hummed the dream’s song, causing hazy figures from the temple’s past to appear and revealing the church’s history and Melancholy’s fate.
• The last remnants of Radiant Moon’s power gathered in the statue, which crumbled and reformed into the scripture “Melancholy Praying in the Lake.”
• Sylutia discovered the scripture’s Ritual of Purity and Ritual of Purification, along with a warning that advancing to Saint of the Lake would alert the Golden Honey Dynasty and the Moon Council.

Sylutia advanced through the Blood Law Aspect, transformed her Fate Card into an Alien Star Aspect, and found a crack that returned her from the World of Shadows to the Cloud Sea Continent. Back in the mountains, she began considering how the crack might explain her own arrival and leaned further toward pursuing the Emerald Nectar path.

• Sylutia concluded that she needed an Alien Star Aspect to find a crack in space and time and return to the Cloud Sea Continent.
• Sylutia used Breathing Technique Lv.3 to advance into the First Order Blood Law Aspect, transforming Sleeping Maiden into Maiden in the Crimson Flower Cluster.
• Sylutia activated her Stars talent and transformed the card into Girl Under the Starry Sky, gaining Alien Star Perception Lv.2.
• Sylutia followed a trace to a crack in space and time and passed through it, returning to the Cloud Sea Continent.
• Sylutia realized she might have entered the forest through a similar crack and considered investigating her origins, while her interest shifted toward Emerald Nectar.

After returning from the World of Shadows, Sylutia learned how Lady Falan could remove her Blood Law Aspect Power so she could resume the Emerald Nectar path. As she recovered, she reflected on the people and history that had shaped the world around her.

• Sylutia returned to the village chief's home, where Talia and the old village chief welcomed her after she had been missing for a day and two nights.
• Lady Falan explained that Sylutia's fall into the World of Shadows was a rare Falling Phenomenon and described how gardeners could use Blood Law with Emerald Nectar.
• Lady Falan offered to remove Sylutia's Blood Law Aspect Power by having her nourish flowers until they produced Blood-Colored Berries, and Sylutia agreed to return to the Emerald Nectar path.
• Over three days, Sylutia gave Blood Law Aspect Power from her blood to Lady Falan's flowers, leaving her back at the stage before forming an Aspect.
• While resting, Sylutia thought about the people who had helped her and the Silver Radiance Church's lasting influence on the world.

Sylutia relearned Emerald Nectar and Gardening Apprentice techniques, then trained with her new Tree Jade Spirit Sword to prepare for a confrontation with Iona. After sparring with Lining, she explained that fear of missing precious chances drove her to enter the World of Shadows.

• Sylutia relearned Dew Prayer Technique, advanced to Emerald Nectar, and combined Branch Combing Technique with it to form Gardening Apprentice.
• Lady Falan warned Sylutia that Iona had begun using a Blazing Sun secret potion and that Sylutia might not yet be strong enough to defeat her.
• Lady Falan gave Sylutia the Tree Jade Spirit Sword and told her to practice Garden Swordsmanship against Lining.
• Sylutia trained with the sword and sparred evenly with Lining for twelve minutes, showing unusual stamina and skill.
• Lining asked why Sylutia still wanted to enter the World of Shadows, and Sylutia said she feared missing the chances to hold on to the people and things she loved.

After winter break, Sylutia reunited with her classmates and learned that the Secret Forest would soon assess Scorched Stone City's young talents. She chose to compete for a place and agreed to visit Iona at Viscount Xuefeng's castle.

• Viscount Xuefeng learned that Iona had stayed in her room for three days, but her Aspect Power remained unchanged, so he told his servant not to disturb her yet.
• Sylutia returned to class after mastering the Blossom Method again and caught up with Comia, Karen, Mick, and Ray about their winter-break progress.
• Scholar Heide began the new semester by explaining that he would teach secret arts and tailor study plans to each student's circumstances.
• Scholar Heide told Sylutia that the Secret Forest's envoys would assess the city's young people, and that she and Iona were the leading candidates for a place.
• Sylutia said she wanted to compete, and Scholar Heide invited her to visit Viscount Xuefeng's castle and meet Iona.

Sylutia visited Viscount Xuefeng’s castle, where he and his wife welcomed her and gave her a house and gifts. She then met Iona, who warned her about the dangers of the Secret Forest selection exam and revealed that she was entering it to protect what remained of her family’s standing; Sylutia discovered Iona’s hidden injuries and powerful golden bloodline.

• Sylutia rode with Yero and Scholar Heide to Viscount Xuefeng’s castle, where the viscount’s wife gave her a family crest ring and welcomed her to seek help.
• Viscount Xuefeng gave Sylutia gifts and a house in Scorched Stone City, and Sylutia wondered whether Lady Falan had prompted his kindness.
• Sylutia visited Iona in the tower, and Iona reluctantly welcomed her after changing into a noble gown.
• Iona warned Sylutia that the Secret Forest selection exam was dangerous, while Sylutia said she had already told Teacher Heide she would participate.
• Iona explained that she needed to protect certain things and could not accept an ordinary life in Scorched Stone City; she then asked whether her swordsmanship could still improve.
• Sylutia examined Iona’s status and discovered hidden injuries from forcefully acquired abilities, a faint Golden Blood talent, and several Blazing Sun and Insect Moth abilities.

Iona recognized Sylutia’s talent and gave her a booklet on Bee Dance Footwork, and the two grew closer as Iona became more involved with the other students. As the Secret Forest assessment approached, the students formed new friendships and rivalries.

• Sylutia analyzed Iona’s swordsmanship, and Iona gave her a booklet on Bee Dance Footwork in return.
• Iona became friendlier with her classmates and began spending time with Sylutia, while Valenie resented their closeness.
• Iona offered to teach Sylutia court dancing after the assessment, and Sylutia agreed to consider it when she had more time.
• Iona told Sylutia that Verto was officially the strongest person in the Regas Kingdom, a Fifth Order Winter Branch Knight, though hidden Sixth Order powerhouses might exist.
• Comia befriended a snow-white Ti Wolf named Dough, while Mick and Solin became sparring rivals as the Secret Forest assessment drew near.

Mick stayed behind as Jero's party left for a mission near Water Ditch Town, while Sylutia demonstrated her mastery of the Blossom Method to Lady Falan. Viscount Xuefeng announced the Secret Forest assessment near Water Ditch Town, where Iona hoped Sylutia would prove herself and claim the Key to the future.

• Mick learned that Jero's party was heading to Water Ditch Town to investigate a monster that had attacked a caravan, and he stayed behind to practice and study.
• Lady Falan watched Sylutia use the Blossom Method to make a White Camellia flower, then told her to focus on cultivating a Fireglow Orchid for the Secret Forest assessment.
• A black carriage reached a mountain range, and its mysterious passenger altered the forest after spotting Ogre traces and chose it as the assessment site.
• Viscount Xuefeng announced that the students' three-stage assessment would take place near Water Ditch Town in three days, with rewards for each objective.
• Iona watched Sylutia and resolved to use the assessment to prove herself and seize the Key to the future.

Lady Falan gave Sylutia a rare flower lantern and a protective coat before teaching her to use the lantern’s amplified fire power. Sylutia successfully tested it with Fireglow Orchids, leaving her excited but needing practice to handle its dangerous strength safely.

• Lady Falan gave Sylutia a Four-Corner Flower Lantern and a sturdy coat before her departure and assessment.
• Sylutia used Branch Combing and Emerald Dew Water to bring five Fireglow Orchids to a perfect bloom, producing First Order Emerald Nectar flowers.
• At Lady Falan’s instruction, Sylutia transplanted three flowers into the lantern and poured in her concentrated Emerald Dew Water.
• Sylutia channeled the Blossom Method through the lantern, unleashing a fire wave that scorched the lawn and sent debris flying.
• Lady Falan warned Sylutia that the combined heat and power could burn her, and advised her to practice controlling the lantern.

The students arrived at Water Ditch Town and prepared for a dangerous assessment in the nearby forest. After the instructor announced the objectives and warned them of the risks, the assessment began with students drawing lots for their starting locations.

• Comia, Mick, Karen, Ray, and Sylutia discussed the assessment over dinner, while Mick and Solin exchanged a silent challenge.
• Viscount Xuefeng arrived at the forest, where Dean reported that an adventuring party had entered and not returned.
• The instructor announced three objectives: obtain water from a Sweet Water Spring, kill a First Order monster, and retrieve a poisonous Blood Alien Flower.
• The instructor explained that students could form teams but would start at locations assigned by lot, and that no one would rescue them during the three-day assessment.
• The instructor warned that conflicts between students might go unpunished if unreported, then began the assessment by having everyone draw lots.

Sylutia and the other students searched the Mist Haze Forest for a spring infused with Mist Shadow Aspect Power as their assessment began. As strange trees and dangerous beasts appeared deeper in the forest, Mick hurried along marks left by Jero’s adventuring party, worried they might be in danger.

• Sylutia entered the forest, used her Emerald Eye potion to search for plants, and continued deeper after finding no sign of the spring.
• Comia, Solin, and Baron searched for the spring with different helpers and tools while the other students explored the mountains.
• As students ventured deeper around noon, they noticed trees with twisted, face-like trunks and branches.
• A student fought and killed a Ti Wolf after it wounded his leg, then bandaged himself and continued into the forest.
• Iona cut down beasts with her twin swords and searched for an area where many beasts gathered, expecting it to reveal the spring’s location.
• Mick followed marks left by Jero’s party into the forest, hoping to reach them before they encountered danger.

Sylutia, Comia, and Solin searched the forest for the spring while facing dangerous beasts. Sylutia found a trace of Mist Shadow Aspect Power, while Solin killed a Forest Mist Snake but was left poisoned and in critical condition.

• Sylutia noticed a Red-Cheeked Mongoose stalking her and killed it when it attacked, then spotted a trace of Mist Shadow Aspect Power in the mountains.
• Comia used her Ti Wolf Dough to search for a place with an aura like the Cold Mist Wine and followed him into the forest.
• Solin fought a Forest Mist Snake after the Wind-Seeking Chicken alerted him to its ambush, but the snake bit through his armor and poisoned him.
• Solin severed the Forest Mist Snake's head and completed one objective, but needed to get the poison out quickly.
• Other students in the forest encountered beasts, with some winning their fights and others being forced to leave early.

Sylutia survived crazed wolves, found the Sweet Water Spring, and prepared to spend the night as the students made their way through the mountains. The next day, an Ogre attacked a student, making him the trial’s first casualty.

• Yero asked Scholar Heide about the strange forest, and Heide suspected a powerful Witch with the Nightmare Aspect had created the trial ground.
• Sylutia killed a pack of crazed black wolves with her sword and lantern, then considered how the Nightmare Aspect had altered the beasts.
• Sylutia found the Sweet Water Spring, filled her bottles, and used her lantern to travel safely through the mountains.
• Mick, Karen, Comia, Solin, the young noble Baron, and Iona each found different ways to camp or continue toward the spring.
• The students’ routes began converging as Sylutia woke the next morning.
• An Ogre pursued a student, broke his arm with its club, and killed him, becoming the trial’s first casualty.

Mick found Jero alive but traumatized and unable to remember what happened to their companions, while Iona defeated a powerful Ogre during the assessment. The chapter left Sylutia facing a gigantic two-headed Ogre guarding the Blood Alien Flower, the final trial objective.

• Sylutia heard a distant sound from the mountains but continued onward when it stopped.
• Mick followed a faint trail to a cave, where Jero attacked him in a drug-induced hallucination after using Sun-Swaying Grass.
• Mick calmed Jero and waited for the drug's effects to pass, but Jero could not remember what had happened to the others.
• Iona fought and defeated a powerful Ogre, completing the first two trial objectives but injuring one arm.
• Sylutia encountered a two-headed Ogre guarding the Blood Alien Flower on a cliff.

Sylutia fled a powerful Two-Headed Ogre, while Karen and Comia searched for their classmates. Mick was saved from a First Order Ogre when Karen and Comia joined the fight, leaving the group with three First Order Ogres and one Second Order Ogre still in the mountains.

• A woman in a black carriage sent a stork to lead her toward Heide as she wondered whether he would survive.
• Sylutia evaded the Two-Headed Ogre and escaped into the forest after its aura nearly made her stumble.
• Karen found Comia at the Sweet Water Spring, and the two set out together with Comia's Ti Wolf to search for their classmates.
• Mick found a sleeping Ogre, injured it in a failed ambush, and fled as it pursued him.
• Karen and Comia attacked the pursuing Ogre with arrows and Comia's disorienting gaze, then joined Mick in killing it.

Mick and his companions found Jero after the ogre attack, and Jero confessed that fear of death and attachment to the adventurer lifestyle had shaped his behavior. Mick reaffirmed his respect for Jero but began questioning whether he should continue adventuring or seek a safer life as a guard.

• Comia bandaged Mick, and the group collected spring water and agreed that Karen deserved credit for killing the ogre.
• Mick led Comia and Karen to Jero, whom they found trying to recover his teammates’ bodies after the ogres had eaten them.
• Jero told Mick that he had used Sun-Swaying Grass to cope with his fear of death and had maintained a brave image because he craved respect and attention.
• Mick told Jero that he still respected him for changing his life and protecting the party, but Jero urged him not to become an adventurer.
• Comia gave Jero and Mick roasted meat, and Mick considered whether to pursue adventuring or become a guard in Scorched Stone City.

Sylutia rescued Solin, defeated a second Ogre, and planned to use poison against stronger enemies. At the test camp, the arrival of a Fourth Order witch shocked the gathered officials, and Scholar Heide recognized her as Melinsa, his long-lost senior.

• Sylutia revived poisoned Solin with White Camellia leaves, and he gave her a Blue Water Shell Pearl before she continued the test.
• At dusk, Sylutia killed an Ogre by exploiting its wounds and burning it with her lantern, then considered using poison against future opponents.
• At the camp, the officials worried that eight First Order students had yet to return from the test.
• A black carriage arrived, and a Fourth Order figure whose Nightmare Aspect corrupted nearby plants approached the camp.
• The figure revealed herself as Melinsa, and Scholar Heide recognized the senior he had met sixty years earlier.

Sylutia and Iona joined forces to fight the Two-Headed Ogre so they could reach the Blood Alien Flower. Their coordinated attacks wounded the Ogre, but the battle was still underway when Iona struck its back with blazing swordlight.

• Sylutia prepared hallucinogenic mushroom poison and planned to weaken the Two-Headed Ogre before taking the Blood Alien Flower.
• Ray met Mick, Comia, and Karen after defeating an Ogre, while Jero said he planned to leave Scorched Stone City.
• Mick, Comia, Karen, and Ray voted to keep exploring and headed deeper into the forest.
• Iona and Sylutia agreed to work together against the Two-Headed Ogre, and Iona pierced its back with her Gold Needle.
• Sylutia poisoned the Ogre's wound with her sword, escaped its strikes, and used the Fireglow Orchid to blind it with a fireball.
• Iona drove her sword into the Gold Needle wound and unleashed Blazing Sun power, widening it as the Ogre's blood covered her.

Sylutia and Iona killed the Two-Headed Ogre, but a Gale Vulture attacked while Iona climbed toward the Blood Alien Flower. Sylutia saved Iona from the fall and killed the bird, leaving herself as the only one still conscious at dusk.

• Sylutia used Emerald Dew Water and Fireglow Orchid Flower stamens to blind and burn the Two-Headed Ogre, and Iona pierced its heart.
• The Ogre seized Iona, so Sylutia stabbed its second heart; the Ogre died after a final Blood Law shockwave weakened them both.
• Iona recovered first and climbed toward the Blood Alien Flower while Sylutia decided not to attack her from below.
• A Gale Vulture knocked Iona off the cliff, and Sylutia caught her before they hit the ground.
• Sylutia struck the Gale Vulture with her broken sword, then used the Tree Jade Spirit Sword to cut off its neck.
• At dusk, Iona lay unconscious beneath a tree, the Ogre and Gale Vulture were dead, and Sylutia slowly rose alone.

Sylutia recovered the Blood Alien Flower, but Iona’s fear of losing her chance to pursue her ambitions drove her to challenge Sylutia again. Their fierce fight continued in the woods, with neither gaining a decisive advantage.

• Sylutia dug up the Blood Alien Flower and stored it in her portable lantern.
• Iona congratulated Sylutia, then asked for the flower and drew her sword to demand another match.
• Iona attacked with her Golden Needle Piercing Blade, and Sylutia defended herself with the Tree Jade Spirit Sword.
• Iona pushed her Blazing Sun Aspect Power to its limit, while Sylutia used the Blue Water Shell Pearl to freeze Iona’s blade and knock away her rapier.
• Iona retrieved her rapier and resumed attacking, but Sylutia exploited flaws in her swordplay as their blades clashed in a stalemate.